Faculty & Administration

John Patrick Dolan is President and CEO of the California Desert Trial Academy College of Law. Dean Dolan has practiced law in the State of California since 1978. Additionally, he is admitted to practice before various Federal jurisdictions and before the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

He is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Criminal law and is the author of twelve best-selling books, including his classic Negotiate like the Pros. Dean Dolan received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Fullerton in 1971 and his Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law in 1977.

Irene Garcia Dolan is Registrar, Director of Admissions. Mrs. Dolan is co-founder and President of LawTalk MCLE, Inc., the parent company of the California Desert Trial Academy College of Law. She has supervised all record keeping and compliance for LawTalk MCLE, Inc. for the past 22 years.

Sue Steding is Dean of Students. Dean Steding served the Office of the District Attorney of Riverside County for more than 34 years. She tried over 100 criminal cases and served as the supervisor of the eastern county prosecution offices for over 20 years. She was the first Chief Assistant District Attorney and longest serving prosecutor in the history of Riverside County. She co-authored California CriminalTrialbook published by West Publishing Company in 1990.

She was licensed to practice law in both the states of Washington and California and currently maintains her license in California. Dean Steding is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, achieving her Juris Doctor with the class of 1975. She is also a graduate of the University of Washington with a cum laude degree in History in 1972.

Philip Drucker is currently a sole practitioner based in the Coachella Valley. In 1980, Philip graduated from UCLA with a BA degree in Fine Art. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1999 through the University of La Verne, School of Law.

Professor Drucker’s initial legal experience came in the form of litigation in the field of employment law. Recently, he has focused his attention on small business start-ups and maintenance, particularly as related to the acquisition and protection of intellectual property rights.

Professor Drucker is also the former Dean of Abraham Lincoln University, School of Law (ALU). ALU is and remains a pioneer in the field of legal online learning. While teaching at American Heritage University, School of Law, Mr. Drucker achieved the title of Professor Emeritus.

Mr. Bochnewich graduated from California Western School of Law, San Diego with his Juris Doctor Degree in 1992. Peter M. Bochnewich is a litigator and civil trial attorney with a highly regarded focus on trust and estate litigation. He currently represents clients in all manner of trust and estate disputes, and is frequently in court and in trial on numerous trust and estate matters each year.

Mr. Bochnewich reputation has grown with a consistent history of very good results and satisfied clients, over many years. He has represented clients throughout the Inland Empire and Southern California, and occasionally in other jurisdictions. Mr. Bochnewich is honored to have been named to the volunteer position of President of the Board of the Boys & Girls club of the Coachella Valley.

Andrea Bouchard graduated from Cal State University San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus in 2008 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. While completing her undergraduate curriculum she obtained her Level III P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards & Training) Certification from the College of the Desert Public Safety Academy, graduating number one academically. Professor Bouchard attended Trinity Law School in Orange County where she was awarded her Juris Doctorate and multiple American Jurisprudence Awards.

Professor Bouchard was sworn in as a member of the State Bar of California in 2012, and is currently a Criminal Defense and Family Law attorney with the firm, Dolan Law Offices, APC located in Indio, CA.

Graham Davies, Barrister, studied law at St. John’s College, Cambridge, where his extra-curricular activities included a term as President of the Cambridge Union Society. He went on to complete the Vocational Course at the Inns Of Court School of Law and was called to the English Bar in 1986.

After joining the Chambers of David Batcup QC, he practiced for 12 years on the London and South Eastern Circuit, focusing mainly on criminal and matrimonial cases. Mr. Davies is also a Professional Speaker and TV pundit who has become the UK’s toughest presentation coach. His book, unimaginatively entitled The Presentation Coach, has become a bestseller. He is the on-screen expert used by the BBC, CNN and Sky News to rip apart major political speeches.

Mr. Davies now coaches lawyers, politicians and chief executives in several jurisdictions on how to present themselves with more impact and less pomposity. Mr. Davies resides in London, England.

Professor Doling is a life-long resident of the Desert. She was born in Palm Springs. Ms. Doling graduated from California Western School of law, San Diego with her Juris Doctor Degree in 1999. She is licensed to practice in California and Nevada. Ms. Doling is a staunch advocate for consumer and debtor rights, representing clients in personal and business bankruptcy for more than 15 years. Ms. Doling was honored with the National Distinguished Service Award in 2013 from the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA).

Additionally, in 2015, Ms. Doling was selected to serve as the State Chair for NACBA for the Central District of California, the largest District in the country. She also serves on the Board of the Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum and is a frequent panel speaker, nationally and locally on bankruptcy issues. Professor Doling is also licensed real estate broker negotiating real estate transactions for individuals, businesses, and bankruptcy trustees.

Professor Doling opened her law firm in Palm Desert in 2001, with a satellite office in Yucca Valley. Her practice is limited almost exclusively to bankruptcy and tax matters.

Visit http://www.dshapc.com for more info

Professor Robert Evans’ decision in 2007 to follow in the footsteps of his father, James W. Evans, a well-known commercial banking litigator, came after more than twenty years as an entrepreneur, having owned and operated restaurants in Palm Desert and West Hollywood. In 2011, Robert graduated from Abraham Lincoln University, School of Law, in Los Angeles, and promptly passed the California Bar Exam.

Following his admission to practice law in all California courts and the United States Central District of California, Robert grew a small business litigation and transactional practice, while also engaging in contract work for several other litigation firms, including Schorr Law Corporation and the Tostrud Law Group in Century City. In 2012, Robert relocated to Palm Desert and joined Anderholt Whittaker LLP, a boutique transaction and litigation firm specializing in real estate, business, estate planning, probate, and intellectual property.

Robert was recently on a panel of distinguished attorneys chosen by Law Seminars International to speak about Negotiating Common Area and Maintenance Fees in Commercial Leases that was attended by landlords, property managers, and attorneys. Robert has also appeared on local television and radio programs, as well as having been a contributor to the Desert Sun’s business section. Robert also serves as a director for the non-profit group ‘The Ophelia Project’.

Professor Evans worked as a sole practitioner from 1996 to 2002 and from 2004 to 2008. From 2002 to 2004, he was a partner with the Law Offices of Evans & Plott LLP and, from 1985 to 1996, Evans worked for MacLachlan, Burford & Arias as an associate and partner. He was an associate with Furness, Flory & Middlebrook from 1981 to 1985 and held the same position with Harding & Miller from 1979 to 1981. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Citrus Belt Law School and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Riverside.

Mr. Hanover, a native of the Inland Empire, graduated from the law school at USC in June 1965, ranked 3d in his class, selected to Order of the Coif and served as a law review editor. He was admitted to practice in Jan 1966. He was honored to receive the Martindale-Hubbard rating of AV- Preeminent, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability. After practicing for 25 years in the San Fernando Valley with broad experience that included criminal law, corporate, pension and profit sharing, family law, commercial litigation, real estate litigation and transactional work, he relocated to the Coachella Valley in 1991 where he has since practiced exclusively in the field of bankruptcy. He currently practices with his law partner, Summer Shaw.

Mr. Hanover has been a real estate broker since 1979 and an active owner of full service real estate companies engaged in brokerage, syndicated investments and property management. While in the San Fernando Valley, he was a member of the board of trustees of the San Fernando Valley Bar Ass’n, served as a Judge Pro Tem and on the arbitration panel for the Los Angeles Superior Court. Since relocating to the CV, he has served on the Desert Bar Fee Arbitration Panel and as a mediator for the United States Bankruptcy Court.

Justice Miller was born in Whittier, California, and grew up in Glendora, California. He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1975. Justice Miller was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1978 from Pepperdine University School of Law. In 1995 Justice Miller was appointed to the Riverside Superior Court by Governor Pete Wilson. He served as the Presiding Judge in the Riverside County Superior Court from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2004.In June of 2006 Justice Miller was appointed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two, by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Justice Miller has served on many state and local committees including the California Judges Association. He is currently serving on the Judicial Council, as Chair of the Executive and Planning Committee; the Commission on the Future of California’s Court System; the Commission on Access to Justice; and Vice Chair of the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions. Justice Miller is also active in many local programs including the Boys & Girls Club, of which he is currently the President and also on the National Area Council Committee; and he is a founding member of the Warren E. Slaughter American Inn of Court.

Professor Moyer is an AV Rated attorney who currently serves as a mediator and arbitrator in civil litigated matters. He practiced law in the State of California for over 38 years and is admitted to practice before various Federal District Courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He was a Civil litigator in Los Angeles from 1986-2010, whose practice emphasized Professional Errors and Omissions and Product Liability defense.

Mr. Moyer was a trial attorney with the Office of the Public Defender of Los Angeles County from 1970-1985. He received his Juris Doctor Degree from U.C.L.A. in 1969 and his Bachelors Degree cum laude from U.C.L.A. in 1966.

Professor Peter Nolan graduated with honors in 1992 from Fresno State with a BA in Psychology and minor in Chicano-Latino Studies. Pete put himself through evening law classes at Loyola Law School. After graduation in 1999 he was hired by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. Since 2008, he has been prosecuting exclusively homicides.Professor Nolan has many professional accolades, including twice winning the Eastern Division “Felony Prosecutor of the Year” in 2008 and 2009. In 2012, Pete was honored as the Countywide “Prosecutor of the Year”. In June 2013 Professor Nolan was named statewide Prosecutor of the Year by the California District Attorneys Association.

Douglas S. Phillips is a partner in the Litigation practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP. Before joining Best Best & Krieger LLP in October 1986, he was with the firm of Erwin, Andelson & Eldred in the Coachella Valley. Mr. Phillips is experienced in civil litigation, appellate law, municipal, environmental and condemnation law.

Mr. Phillips has represented public agencies and private parties in all types of municipal litigation. Mr. Phillips has provided legal services as Deputy City Attorney to the cities of Palm Desert, Indio, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, Desert Hot Springs, Needles, Cathedral City, and Coachella. He is currently a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Palm Desert, and represents the City of Indian Wells in litigation matters.

Mr. Phillips is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, the Riverside County Bar Association and the Desert Bar Association.

Mr. Phillips has been an instructor at Chapman University since 1983. He graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 and from Syracuse University College of Law in 1976. Mr. Phillips was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1977.

Commissioner Reed worked as sole practitioner from 1996 to 2014. Her areas of practice were criminal defense and family law. She was a contract lawyer with the Desert Defenders Conflict Panel also from 1996 to 2014. She served as a Planning Commissioner with the City of Indio, from 2004 to 2010, with two terms as Chair. She was Chair of the Nuisance Abatement Appeals Board for the City of Indio from 2000 to 2004.

Commissioner Reed has coached Indio High Schools Mock Trial team for 8 of the last 12 years. Prior to becoming an attorney, she worked for the Riverside Courts as a Probate and Family Law Examiner/Investigator. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Western State College of Law and an Associate of Science degree in Business Management from College of the Desert.

Born in Mexico and raised in Santa Ana, California, Attorney Rosa Elena Sahagún prides herself in her continuous effort to serve the community at large. Her high school years were marked by the birth of her son. Despite the difficulties that this entailed, she graduated with honors from Santa Ana High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Chapman University, graduating also with honors, and completed her Juris Doctorate at Chapman University School of Law. She began practicing law in began in 2002. In 2006, she established The Law Offices of Rosa Elena Sahagún, which allowed her to strengthen her already close ties with the community through her volunteer work. Attorney Sahagún’s practice includes criminal defense, immigration law, family law, and civil litigation. Immigration law remains one of her key areas of practice. As a law student, one of her Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit case resulted in a published decision: VARGAS-GARCIA v. INS, 287 F.3d 882 (9th Cir. 2002). Attorney Sahagún most recently obtained local and national press for her pro bono work representing the community in battling immigration fraud. She has been at the helm of community organization in the plight to inform those who often are the targets of immigration scams.

For the past five years, Attorney Sahagún has been a regular collaborator as a legal analyst for CNN En Español where she addresses legal problems concerning the Hollywood celebrities. She has also been interviewed by Telemundo, Noticias Univision 34, En Contexto (Channel 52), CBS, The Press Enterprise, Fontana Herald News, Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine and The Desert Sun. Attorney Sahagún has been named Attorney of the Year by Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association for her volunteer work. The State Bar of California has recognized Ms. Sahagun’s pro bono work and has awarded her several W. Wiley Manuel. Additionally, her work has also been recognized by local congressmen, state senators, and assembly members in California. Most recently, La Opinión, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States, recognized Attorney Sahagun’s community work by naming her a Distinguished Woman in 2014 (Mujer Destacada), specifically for her work in preventing immigration fraud.

Professor Samuel Trussell has an undergraduate degree in History and a Master’s degree in Humanities from San Francisco State University. He holds Secondary, Bilingual and Community College teaching credentials, having taught History & Humanities at the Community College level, as well as English & ESL at the middle and high school levels. He graduated in the top 10% of his class from Southwestern Law School, where he attended night classes while teaching days.

He began his legal career with the Appellate Department of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. From there he moved to the desert where he has practiced personal injury law since 1986. He has litigated many cases in that field in both state and federal trial and appellate courts. His areas of emphasis include wrongful death, products liability, medical malpractice and insurance coverage disputes. Professor Trussell is a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Desert Bar Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association

California State Bar Standard and Required Disclosure

The method of instruction at this law school for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program is principally in physical classroom facilities. However, on January 20, 2017, the Committee of Bar Examiners voted unanimously to allow California Desert Trial Academy College of Law to incorporate on-line synchronous learning at this facility.

This new program begins fall semester, 2017 for the incoming first year students. The instructional program will expand with each new class. The program will be fully available to all four classes by fall 2020.

Students enrolled in the J.D. degree program at this law school who successfully complete the first year of law study must pass the First-Year Law Students Examination required by Business and Professions Code 6060(h) and Rule VIII of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California as part of the requirements to qualify to take the California Bar Examination.

A student who passes the First-Year Law Students Examination within three (3) administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it will receive credit for all legal studies completed to the time the examination is passed. A student who does not pass the examination within three (3) administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it must be promptly disqualified from the law school’s J.D. degree program. If the dismissed student subsequently passes the examination, the student is eligible for re-enrollment in this law school’s J.D. degree program, but will receive credit for only one year of legal study.

Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or to satisfy the requirements for admission to practice in jurisdictions other than California. A student intending to seek admission to practice law in a jurisdiction other than California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding the legal education requirements in that jurisdiction for admission to the practice of law.

Copyright CDTA California Desert Trial Academy College of Law. All rights reserved. The Desert’s first and only Law School. Proudly serving all of Southern California; accepting applications from Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Copyright 2017 Law Talk MCLE